Can-opener



( No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 1.

L. HAMEL.

v OAN OPENER. v No. 601,139. Patented Mar. 22, 1898.

fIEr'l 6 3 Um Q 1 S 5 j- II .4 I

WITNESSES INVENTOR L aazls'flamel (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. HAMEL.

CAN OPENER.

' Nod 601,139. Patented Mar... 22, 1898.

1 INVVSENTOR Lvazs fiameZ- Allorney WITNESSES NITED. STATES PATENT rFicEi.

LOUIS HAMEL, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,139, dated March 22, 1898. Application filed February 27,1897- Serial No. 625,248. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS HAMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gardner, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to produce a can-opener of simple, durable, and efficient construction designed to open a can or other similar receptacle quickly and with a minimum expenditure of power.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this general character by means of which cansof varying sizes can be readily opened and the cut edge of the material turned in to facilitate the removal of the contents.

To the accomplishment of these and other objects my invention consists in providing a pair of pivoted members with adjustable clamping and cutting mechanism designed to out the top adjacent its periphery and. to securely retain the can during the cutting operation.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatiomFigure 1 is a plan view of a can-opener constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the applica tion of the same. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the can-opener applied, including only the upper part of the can. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the adjustable clamp. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the cutting device. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the clamp. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the same, and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the centering-screw.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a can of sheet metal or other similar material upon which my improved opener is designed to operate, said can being provided with the usual circular top or lid 2.

3 designates what I shall term the retaining-arm, and 4 the lever which carries the cutting-blade or knife, the said arm and lever being pivotally connected to each other at their contiguous ends by a screw 5, which extends below the parts and is provided with a spear-head 5, designed to be forced through the can-top 2 at its center to constitute a centering-pin or fulcrum for operating-lever, the shoulders of the head preventing displacement thereof.

6 designates a slide forming an integral part of an adjustable clamp and having a transverse aperture 7 for the reception of the retaining-arm 3, upon which said slide or clamp is adj ustably secured by a thumb-screw 8. The clamp portion of the slide consists of a pyramidal-shaped prong 8, and adjacent thereto and beyond the same with two or more similar prongs 9, the angular edges of which are so disposed as to face the corresponding edge of the prong 8. By this arrangement the centering-screw 5 having been forced through the can-top the thumb-screw on the slide or clamp 6 is loosened and the said slide or clamp slid upon the retaining-arm 3 until the prong 8 is just inside the periphery of the can, when by forcing said prong through the can-top its outer edge is brought to bear against the inner side of the body of the can, while the prongs 9 are brought in contact with the outer side thereof. The upper edge of the body of the can is thus firmly crimped or bent between the opposing angular edges of the prongs 8 and 9, forming short bends by which the slide or clamp is securely held in position against lateral movement. The mechanism just described constitutes what I shall term the can-clamping mechanism, and I shall now proceed to describe the parts which constitute the can-cutting mechanism.

10 designates an adjustable cutting device comprising in part a head or slide having a transverse aperture 11 for the reception of the operating-lever 4, a set-screw 12 being let into the head or slide to secure the cutting device in its adjusted positions upon the lever. As illustrated, the cutting-blade consists, preferably, of a thin spearpoint 14, above which is a concave cutting edge 15, the spear-point providing for pushing the knife through the top of the can to bring the concave cutting edge in position to cut, with the slide proper resting upon the can to travel thereon. The slide has a depending flange 13 beyond the cutting-blade, and by forcing this flange it can be made to act as a guidefinger, in which instance the thumb-screw could be dispensed with, as the blade would limit the outward movement of the slide and the finger its inward movement. In other words, the cutting device would be guided by the edge of the can.

The parts of the implement being organized as described, the centering-screw 5 is forced through the center of the top and the canclampingmechanism passed into engagement with one side of the body of the can to hold the retaining-arm in fixed relation thereto, after which the cutting device is adjusted upon the operating lever until the blade reaches a point adjacent the edge of the cantop, when it is forced through the material to bring the concave cutting edge in proper engagement therewith. The extremity of the arm 3 and projecting end of the lever 4 are now grasped by the operator and the lever swung around the can, forcing the knife through the material and effectually severing the top and thereby opening the can. If it is desired to cut the full circle, it is simply necessary to move the clamp-lever slightly to permit the required movement of the cutting device.

It will be observed from the foregoing that I have produced a simple device which may be applied to a can of any size and which when so applied will enable the can-top to be removed readily and by reason of the downward pressure applied effectually turn the projecting edges of the material inward and thereby prevent the annoyance which the ordinary ragged edge causes when the removal of the contents of the can is attempted.

I do not desire to limit myself to the details of construction herein shown and described, as it is evident that the construction could be modified in certain particulars without sacrificing any of the advantages, and therefore reserve the right to change or modify the same within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a can-opener,the combination of a pair of pivoted members, a clamping device having depending prongs out of line with each other and adj ustably mounted upon one memher, and cutting mechanism carried by the other member, substantially as specified.

2. In a can-opener,the combination of a pair of members pivoted to each other, a screw forming the pivot and extended to present a centering-pin, clamping mechanism having depending prongs out of line with each other and adjustably mounted upon one member, and cutting mechanism adjustably connected to the other member, substantially as shown and described.

In a can-opener, the combination of an operating-lever, a centering-pin forming the pivot of said. lever, a clamping device presenting depending prongs out of line with each other and a cutting device in sliding engagement with the lever, said cutting device presenting a depending blade and adjoining flange, substantially as described.

4. In a can-opener,the combination of a pair of members pivoted to each other, clamping mechanism adjustablymounted on one of the members and presenting depending prongs triangular in cross-section the angular edges being opposed to each other, and a cutting device carried by the other member of the implement, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

5. I11 a can-opener,the combination of a pair of arms pivoted to each other, the pivotpoint being extended to form a centering device, clamping mechanism in sliding engagement with one of the arms and presenting depending prongs triangular in cross-section or pyramidal, and a cutting device adjustable upon the other arm, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS IIAMEL.

\Vitnesses:

.Iosurn D. ALIE, J OSEPH MARTIN. 

